There’s been a lot of debate about humour vs humor. At GiGiLL, we’ve taken a step back and identified something bigger, because it’s turns out it was never just about humour. Consider this:
labour vs labor
favour vs favor
honour vs honor
behaviour vs behavior
At first glance, mere regional spelling differences, but on closer inspection, there’s a subtle shift:
“our” suggests something shared
“or” suggests a choice
“Our” words
labour → effort distributed across a team
favour → something extended, often collectively understood
honour → values upheld together
behaviour → shaped by group dynamics
humour → ideally, shared
These words feel collaborative. They imply participation, alignment, and a degree of mutual ownership.
“Or” words
labor → output
favor → transaction
honor → individual recognition
behavior → observable action
humor → optional
These feel more decisive. More contained. Slightly more efficient.
In practice
Most workplaces aim for “our.”
Our strategy
Our priorities
Our meeting
But eventually, they require “or.”
this or that
you or me
now or later
GiGiLL Position
We’re not here to resolve the spelling debate. We’re here to observe the pattern:
“Our” creates alignment.
“Or” creates outcomes.
Most organizations are very good at one. Fewer are comfortable with both.
Final Note
We will continue to monitor developments in this space. In the meantime, teams are encouraged to:
begin with “our”
and, when necessary, introduce “or”